Customizing an application

ABSTRACT

A system is configured to perform a method of customizing an application. The method includes receiving a connection from a client machine that is executing an application configurable by configuration information. The method also includes determining that the application has not been customized by the configuration information. The method further includes transmitting the configuration information to the client machine in response to the determining that the application has not been customized by the configuration information. In response to the transmitting of the configuration information, the application is configured to include a category structure for the application. In some example embodiments, the configuration information includes a software module upgrade of the application.

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/387,638, filed Jun. 10, 2002, and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/252,127, filed Sep. 20, 2002, which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of network-basedcommerce and, more specifically, to a system and method of customizingan application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the wide spread acceptance of the Internet as an ubiquitous,interactive communication and interaction platform, on-line (orelectronic) commerce conducted over the Internet has become commonplacein a variety of business environments. On-line commerce is traditionallycategorized as business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer (B2C),consumer-to-consumer (C2C) and even business-to-employee (B2E) commerce.In the B2B environment, a number of online exchanges or marketplaces(e.g., vertical exchanges) have been established with a view tofacilitating electronic commerce between parties, for example, within avertical supply chain. Such B2B exchanges typically provide a number oftools for facilitating commerce, such as aggregated and near real-timeinventory information, Requests for Quotation (RFQ) capabilities andauctions.

In the B2C and C2C environments, a number of marketplace exchanges andtransaction facilities have proved popular. A leading electronictransaction facility (or market place) is operated by eBay,Incorporated. Electronic marketplaces are also provided by Yahoo!Incorporated and Amazon.com. Further, a number of on-line services offeron-line classifieds, such as the Yahoo! Classifieds service offered byYahoo! Incorporated.

A number of the on-line marketplaces are utilized by merchants as animportant, if not a primary, distribution channel for products. Suchso-called “power users” typically list a large number of items to besold or auctioned each day. Further, various retailers and merchantsalso utilize free, or low-cost, classified advertisement servicesoffered on the Internet, such as Yahoo! Classifieds. For example, aused-car sales operation may, at any time, place a number of suchclassified advertisements via an on-line classified advertisementservice. It would be helpful to provide merchants with a way to createand propagate multiple items to a network-based marketplace.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which likereferences indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network-basedtransaction facility, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a database diagram illustrating an exemplary databasemaintained and accessed by a database engine server of the network-basedtransaction facility.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a network-based transactionenvironment, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention including a client-side and a server-side.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the seller application, accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, of customizing the sellerapplication, where the seller application facilitates propagatingtransaction listings to a network-based transaction facility.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, of scheduling listings, via theseller application, at the network-based transaction facility.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the relationship between theseller application and multiple network-based transaction facilities,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, of scheduling the listing oftransaction listings at a network-based transaction facility.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, of providing a “what you see iswhat you get” (WYSIWYG) interface for entering transaction listingdescriptions in the seller application.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, of receiving software modules andconfiguration data updates/upgrades for the seller application.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, of downloading the sellerapplication from the network-based transaction facility to a clientmachine.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, of customizing the sellerapplication utilized to propagate transaction listings and theirrespective start times to a network-based transaction facility.

FIGS. 13A-13E illustrates interfaces that may be presented to a user bya network-based transaction facility so as to facilitate customizationof the seller application.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, of defining batch text thatembodies a collection of transaction listings, such as for example,listings to be published at an online store.

FIGS. 15A-15E illustrate interfaces that may be presented to a user by anetwork-based transaction facility so as to allow creating, editing, anddeleting collections of transaction listings and of individualtransaction listings.

FIGS. 16A-16C illustrate interfaces that may be presented to a user by anetwork-based transaction facility so as to facilitate the entry of atransaction listing description.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, of entering a transaction listingdescription via a transaction listing description interface.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, of scheduling listings, via theseller application, at a network-based transaction facility.

FIGS. 19 a and 19 b illustrate interfaces that may be presented to auser by a network-based transaction facility so as to allow the viewing,editing, previewing and confirmation of collections of transactionlistings and of individual transaction listings.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the invention, of facilitating the updating/upgrading ofthe seller application.

FIGS. 21A-21C provide a diagrammatic representation of a databasestructure, as may be maintained by the database engine server of anetwork-based transaction facility, according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows a diagrammatic representation of machine in the exemplaryform of a computer system within which a set of instructions, forcausing the machine to perform any one of the methodologies discussedabove, may be executed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method and system for scheduling transaction listings at anetwork-based transaction facility are described. In the followingdescription, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details areset forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the presentinvention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art thatthe present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

Terminology

The term “user” shall be taken to refer to any entity, human orautomated, that contributes to, or participates in, a transaction,communication or process.

The term “transaction” shall be taken to include any communication orexchange between two or more parties with a view to establishing abusiness agreement, exchange of value or a commercial relationship.Accordingly, the word “transaction” shall be deemed to cover, but not belimited to, a purchase-and-sale transaction established as a result, forexample, of the placement of an advertisement or as a result of theconclusion of an auction process, the auction process being conducted on-line or otherwise.

The term “upgrade” shall be taken to include upgrades and updates.Accordingly, the word “upgrade” shall be deemed to cover, but not belimited to, modifications to existing software modules and dataelements.

The term “targeted site” shall be taken to include a site (e.g.,website) targeted according to geography (e.g., continent, country,region, etc.), subject matter (e.g., Beanie Babies, baseballmemorabilia, antique cars, etc.), purpose (e.g., commercial, non-profit,etc.), demographics (e.g., Spanish language, English language, etc.),etc. In fact, any combination (e.g., geography, purpose, anddemographics) of the above or other criteria may be used in describing a“targeted site.”

The term “web site” shall be taken to mean a related collection of WorldWide Web (WWW) files that include a beginning file called a home page.Thousands of companies and individuals have one or multiple websites. Acompany or an individual tells you how to get to their web site(s) bygiving you a home page address. From the home page, you can get to allthe other pages on the site. For example, the web site for eBay has thehome page address of http://www.eBay.com. The home page address for eBayleads to many other pages. (But a web site can also be just a fewpages). A very large web site may be spread over a number of servers indifferent geographic locations. The web sites of certain company'sconsist of thousands of files spread out over many servers in world-widelocations. But a more typical example is probably a web site thatresides on a commercial space provider's web server with a number ofother web sites, where all of the web sites may or may not have anythingto do with each other.

While an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is discussedbelow with reference to “items”, it will be appreciated that the presentinvention is not so limited. Accordingly, the word “item” shall bedeemed to cover, but not be limited to, a transaction listing.

The term “data file” shall be taken to mean a collection of transactionlistings. Accordingly, the phrase“ data file” shall be deemed to cover,but not be limited to, a collection of transaction listings, forexample, which is being propagated to a network-based transactionfacility.

Transaction Facility

FIG. 1 is block diagram illustrating an exemplary network-basedtransaction facility 10. While an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention is described within the context of a network-based transactionfacility 10, the invention will find application in many different typesof computer-based, and network-based, facilities (commerce, transactionor otherwise).

The network-based transaction facility 10, in an exemplary embodiment,includes one or more of a number of types of front-end servers that eachincludes at least one Dynamic Link Library (DLL) to provide certainfunctionality. Page servers 12 deliver web pages (e.g., markup languagedocuments), picture servers 14 dynamically deliver images to bedisplayed within Web pages, listing servers 16 facilitate category-basedbrowsing of listings, search servers 20 that handle search requests tothe network-based transaction facility 10 and facilitate keyword-basedbrowsing of listings, and ISAPI servers 18 provide an intelligentinterface to the back-end of the network-based transaction facility 10.E-mail servers 22 provide, inter alia, automated e-mail communicationsto users of the network-based transaction facility 10. Administrativeapplications(s) functions 32 facilitate monitoring, maintaining, andmanaging the network-based transaction facility 10. API servers 13provide a set of functions for querying the network-based transactionfacility 10. The API is a set of easy to use functions called throughthe HTTP transport protocol. Information is sent and received using astandard XML data format. Applications utilized to interact (e.g.,upload transaction listings, review transaction listings, managetransaction listings, etc.) with the network-based transaction facilitymay be designed to use the API. Such applications may be an HTML form ora CGI program written in C++, Perl, Pascal, or any other programminglanguage. The API is more fully described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/999,618, herein incorporated by reference.

The page servers 12, API servers 13, picture servers 14, ISAPI servers18, search servers 20, e-mail servers 22 and database engine server 26may individually, or in combination, act as a communication engine tofacilitate communications between, for example, the client machine 38and the network-based transaction facility 10. In addition, the pageservers 12, API servers 13, picture servers 14, ISAPI servers 18, searchservers 20, e-mail servers 22 and database engine server 26 mayindividually, or in combination, act as a transaction engine tofacilitate transactions between, for example, the client machine 38 andthe network-based transaction facility 10. Furthermore, the page servers12, API servers 13, picture servers 14, ISAPI servers 18, search servers20, e-mail servers 22 and database engine server 26 may individually, orin combination, act as a display engine to facilitate the display ofitems between, for example, the client machine 38 and the network-basedtransaction facility 10.

The back-end servers include a database engine server 26, a search indexserver 24 and a credit card database server 28, each of which maintainsand facilitates access to a respective database.

The network-based transaction facility 10 may be accessed by a clientprogram, such as for example a browser 36 (e.g., the Internet Explorerdistributed by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash.) that executes on aclient machine 38 and accesses the network-based transaction facility 10via a network such as, for example, the Internet 34. Other examples ofnetworks that a client may utilize to access the network-basedtransaction facility 10 include a wide area network (WAN), a local areanetwork (LAN), a wireless network (e.g., a cellular network), or thePublic Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) network.

Database Structure

FIG. 2 is a database diagram illustrating an exemplary database 30,maintained by and accessed via the database engine server 26, which atleast partially implements and supports the network-based transactionfacility 10. In the exemplary embodiment, the database engine server 26maintains two databases 30 _(a) and 30 _(b), a first database 30 _(a)being maintained for listing (or offering) information that is notincluded within a virtual “store” according to the present invention,with a second database 30 _(b) storing offering information forofferings that are presented via virtual “stores” supported by thenetwork-based transaction facility 10. The structure of these databases30 _(a) and 30 _(b) are substantially the same, but differ in that thetables of the “store” database 30 _(b) may include a number ofadditional fields to facilitate the virtual stores. A general discussionof the basic structure of a database 30 is presented below, this beingapplicable to both databases 30 _(a) and 30 _(b).

The database 30 may, in one embodiment, be implemented as a relationaldatabase, and includes a number of tables having entries, or records,that are linked by indices and keys. In an alternative embodiment, thedatabase 30 may be implemented as collection of objects in anobject-oriented database.

Central to the database 30 is a user table 54, which contains a recordfor each user of the network-based transaction facility 10. A user mayoperate as a seller, buyer, or both, when utilizing the network-basedtransaction facility 10. The database 30 also includes items tables 60that may be linked to the user table 54. The items tables 60 may includea seller items table 52 and a bidder items table 58. A user record inthe user table 54 may be linked to multiple items that are being, orhave been, listed or offered for sale via the network-based transactionfacility 10. A link indicates whether the user is a seller or a bidder(or buyer) with respect to items for which records exist within theitems tables 60.

The database 30 also includes one or more category tables 47. Eachrecord within the category table 47 describes a respective category. Inone embodiment, a specific category table 47 describes multiple,hierarchical category data structures, and includes multiple categoryrecords, each of which describes the context of a particular categorywithin the one of the multiple hierarchical category structures. Forexample, the category table 47 may describe a number of real, or actual,categories to which item records, within the items tables 60, may belinked.

The database 30 also includes one or more attributes tables 49. Eachrecord within an attributes table 49 describes a respective attribute.In one embodiment, a specific attributes table 49 describes multiple,hierarchical attribute data structures, and includes multiple attributerecords, each of which describes the context of a particular attributewithin the one of the multiple hierarchical attribute structures. Forexample, the attributes table 49 may describe a number of real, oractual, attributes to which item records, within the items tables 60,may be linked. Also, the attributes table 49 may describe a number ofreal, or actual, attributes to which categories, within the categorytable 47, may be linked.

The database 30 also includes a note table 46 populated with noterecords that may be linked to one or more item records within the itemstables 60 and/or to one or more user records within the user table 54.Each note record within the note table 46 may include, inter alia, acomment, description, history or other information pertaining to an itembeing offered via the network-based transaction facility 10, or to auser of the network-based transaction facility 10. Also, the database 30includes a targeted site table 67 populated with targeted site recordsthat may be linked to one or more item records within the items tables60 and/or to one or more user records within the user table 54.

A number of other tables are also shown to be linked to the user table54, namely a user past aliases table 48, a feedback table 50, a feedbackdetails table 53, a bids table 55, an accounts table 64, an accountbalances table 62 and a batch items table 40. To enable one embodimentof the present invention, the database 30 is also shown to include abatch table 42, a batch items table 40 and an items wait table 44.Further details regarding the database tables 40-44 are provided below.

The present invention relates to a method and system for automaticallyupdating a seller application utilized in a network-based transactionfacility 10. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a network-basedtransaction environment 67, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, including a client-side 35 and a server-side 71. Thetransaction listings 70 (e.g., offers for sale, auctions, fixed-pricelistings) are established on the network-based transaction facility 10,in one embodiment, via the seller application 66. The seller application66 is utilized at a client machine 38 to assist in the communication ofmultiple transaction listings 70 to a network-based transaction facility10. In one embodiment, the seller application 66 may be utilized offlineor the seller application 66 may be utilized online (e.g., connected tothe network-based transaction facility 10). In one embodiment, theseller application 66 is a stand alone application that executes on theclient machine 38. In another embodiment, the communication of themultiple transaction listings 70 may be performed utilizingserver-enabled applications, such as a web browser, or applet thatexecutes within a web browser.

In one embodiment, the seller application 66 is installed and executedon a client computer with a view to assisting a user in propagatingmultiple transaction listings 70 and their respective start times to anetwork-based transaction facility 10. The seller application 66 thusoperates as a client application, and provides a number of userinterfaces and other functionality to assist a user in defining multipletransaction listings 70 in a convenient manner. The seller application66 also operates to compose a data file (e.g., batch text 68) thatincludes the multiple transaction listings 70 and their associated starttimes, and to propagate such a data file as a single transmission to anetwork-based transaction facility 10. The propagating of such a singledata file including multiple transaction listings 70 is a feature, thatmay reduce the number of interactions between a client machine 38 andthe network-based transaction facility 10, and thereby reduce the amountof time that a client machine 38 has to be connected to a network (i.e.,be “on-line”).

The associated start times include a different starting time for atleast a portion of the plurality of transaction listings 70 in the datafile. The associated start times may include a starting date and time ofa first transaction listing 70 in the data file 68. In an exemplaryembodiment, the start times may be staggered by a user-selectable amountof time. For example, transaction listings 70 scheduled to start at Dec.25, 2002 at 7:00 a.m. with a user staggered time of 5 minutes selectedby a user will result in the following:

-   -   the first transaction listing starting at 7:00 a.m.;    -   the second transaction listing starting at 7:05 a.m.;    -   the third transaction listing starting at 7:10 a.m.; and    -   the fourth transaction listing starting at 7:15 a.m.

Thus, the starting times of the four transaction listings 70 in theexample are staggered by 5 minutes. In the exemplary embodiment, theuser may chose numerous values with which to stagger the starting times(e.g., 10 minutes, 1 hour, 10 hours, 1 day, etc.). In one embodiment,the seller application 66 prevents the user from specifying associatedstarting times for transaction listings 70 where the associated startingtimes exceed a maximum advanced scheduling value. Furthermore, theseller application 66 may prevent the user from specifying an associatedstart time less than a minimum scheduling value. The maximum advancedscheduling value and the minimum scheduling value may be defined interms of years, months, days, hours, minutes, or seconds defined by thenetwork-based transaction facility 10.

As the seller application 66 is, in one exemplary embodiment, executableon the client-side 35 as a stand-alone application, it provides thefeature of allowing a user to compose multiple transaction listings 70in an “off-line” manner (e.g., without necessarily establishing anynetwork communications or session with the network-based transactionfacility 10), and then to propagate such multiple transaction listings70 to the network-based transaction facility 10 as the above-mentionedsingle data file transmission.

A further feature of the client-side 35 executable seller application 66is that it is configurable to work with multiple targeted (e.g.,customized) sites. Therefore, a user may use the seller application 66to propagate the same transaction listing 70 to multiple targeted sites(e.g., geographically-targeted sites for each of the U.S., UK, DE, etc .. . ).

One embodiment of the present invention provides server-side facilitatedviewing, editing and confirmation of multiple transaction listings 70 bya user, and also the committing of such multiple transaction listings 70to an active state to initiate multiple transaction processesfacilitated by the network-based transaction facility 10.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the environment includes a client-side 35 anda server-side 71. On the client-side 35, a client machine 38 (e.g., apersonal computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), cellular telephone,set-top box, or any other networked device) is shown to host the sellerapplication 66, and a browser application 36. While the sellerapplication 66 and browser application 36 are illustrated as beingseparate, the browser application 36 may be configured to work as theseller application 66, for example through the retrieval of HTML pagesfrom the server-side 36 or through execution of an applet. The clientmachine 38 is coupled to a network in the exemplary form of the Internet34, or any Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN).

The seller application 66, in one embodiment, presents a number of userinterfaces to a user for the purposes of harvesting multiple transactionlistings 70. The seller application 66 further composes batch text 68that embodies the multiple transaction listings 70 inputted via themultiple interfaces. The seller application 66 then communicates thebatch text 68 to the network-based transaction facility 10 in accordancewith the network-based transaction facility API. In an alternativeembodiment, the seller application 66 interacts with an emailapplication 69 to compose an electronic mail (e-mail) message thatembodies the batch text 68. The batch text 68 is communicated to thenetwork-based transaction facility 10 by the email application 69 as anemail message. Specifically, the email application 69 utilizes any oneof a number of electronic e-mail or messaging protocols (e.g., SimpleMail Transport Protocol (SMTP)) to communicate the email message overthe Internet 34. It will of course be appreciated, in alternativeembodiments, that any one of a number of other protocols (e.g., the FileTransport Protocol (FTP)) may be utilized.

Turning to the server-side 71, the network-based transaction facility 10is shown to execute a transaction application 73 that includes acommunicator module 75, a parser module 76, an upgrade control module77, a scheduler module 80, and a publisher module 82.

The communicator module 75 including the parser module 76 is to receivea data file 68 from the seller application 66 executed at a clientmachine 38, the data file 68 including a plurality of transactionlistings 70 and respective associated start times. The parser module 76operates to parse received multiple transaction listings 70 from thebatch text 68. The parser module 76 may also perform various format,content and verification operations. The parser module 76 then populatesthe items wait table 44, as maintained by the database engine server 26,with the extracted transaction listings 70. The scheduler module 80schedules publication of the plurality of transaction listings 70according to their respective associated start times. From the itemswait table 44, the transaction listings 70 are transferred to the liveitems table 60 according to their scheduled listing time, in the mannerdescribed below. The publisher module 82 publishes each of the pluralityof transaction listings 70 at the network-based transaction facility 10according to their associated start times.

In one embodiment, the communicator module 75 verifies user logininformation supplied by the seller application 66 with a connectionrequest. The verification occurs before receiving the batch text 68.Upon verifying the user login information, the communicator module 75provides user information received to the upgrade control module 77. Theupgrade control module 77 determines if the seller application 66requires any updates/upgrades. Such updates/upgrades, may include butare not limited to software components (e.g., main module) or dataelements (e.g., category updates, attributes updates, etc.).

The transaction application 73 further encompasses the page server 12,which in one exemplary embodiment, includes an Internet ServerApplication Program Interface (ISAPI) 18 where the page server 12comprises the Internet Information Server, a web server developed byMicrosoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. In an alternative embodiment,the page server 12 may execute a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) program.The page server 12 operates dynamically to generate markup languagedocuments (e.g., web pages) utilizing content retrieved from thedatabase engine server 26, and to communicate such markup languagedocuments via the Internet 34 to the seller application 66 for viewingutilizing the browser application 36. In one embodiment, the page server12 serves up a reviewer page 72, embodying a list of multipletransaction listings 70 successfully extracted by the parser module 76from the list of transaction listings 70 for display within the browserapplication 36. This is done for the purposes of allowing a user toview, edit, and confirm such transaction listings 70 before they arecommunicated to the live items table 60 from the items wait table 44.

Basic Architecture of the Seller Application

In the exemplary embodiment, the seller application 66 architectureincludes three layers. The three layers include the GUI layer, the dataobjects layer, and the communication and database layer. The GUI layer'smodules handle all interaction with the user and all management ofresource files. The data objects layer contains data objects thatcontain targeted site data. The data objects layer encapsulates XMLparsing of the targeted site data as well as database access, easing GUIdevelopment. The communication and database layer provide simplifiedinterfaces to the rest of the seller application 66. An upgrade manager(e.g., upgrade module explained below) is provided for keeping the threelayers of the seller application 66 up-to-date. This involves managingseveral types of data elements (e.g., category data) and components(e.g., modules). The upgrade manager is explained further below.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary seller application 66. Inthe exemplary embodiment, the seller application 66 facilitatespropagating a plurality of transaction listings 70 to a network-basedtransaction facility 10.

Seller Application Components

In the exemplary embodiment, the seller application 66 includes a mainmodule 84, resource modules 81, a data objects module 83, a create/edittransaction listing module 85, targeted site resource modules 87,targeted site configuration files 86, a communication module 95, a datastorage module 89, an import engine module 91, an upgrade manager module92, a helper module 93, user independent databases 94, the sellerapplication database 97 and a configuration and registration module 96.The create/edit transaction listing module 85 includes an interfacemodule 88 and a composer module 90.

Composition of the Seller Application

In the exemplary embodiment, the seller application 66 is builtprimarily using Microsoft standard libraries and components. The mainexecutable and the GUI (graphical user interface) based components useMFC (Microsoft Foundation Classes). MFC is a large library of C++classes developed by Microsoft. MFC is bundled with several C++compilers and is also available as part of the Microsoft Developer'sNetwork (MSDN).

In the exemplary embodiment, the communication and database layer usesOLEDB (OLE Data Base) and the Jet Engine. OLEDB is a programminginterface for data access from Microsoft. Applications may use OLEDB toaccess data sources directly or they can use OLEDB to call ODBC toaccess ODBC databases. Jet (Joint Engine Technology) engine is thedatabase engine used in Microsoft Access and it accompanies Visual Basicand C++. Jet is typically used for storing data in the client machine.Developers using Access and Visual Basic access Jet via the DAO/Jetinterface, which is a COM object.

In the exemplary embodiment, Microsoft components are utilized sincemany are already installed on many client machines 28. For example, byrequiring that a user of the seller application 66 have installedInternet Explorer 5.0 or later, there is reasonable certainty that thenecessary version of the Jet Engine is available. In the exemplaryembodiment, third party tools may be utilized for STL and XML parsing.

Multi-User and Security in the Seller Application

In the exemplary embodiment, a multi-user environment is supported byusing a separate DB (database) for each user's preferences. When theuser logs on, the database file for that user will be used. Passwordprotection (e.g., Microsoft Access) is used to secure these userdatabase files. The text fields of the user database may also beencrypted in a way that does not affect performance, but may preventcurious users from hacking the tables.

Some user-independent settings are kept in the seller applicationdatabase 97 (e.g., site specific data). In the exemplary embodiment,there is only one seller application database 97. The seller applicationdatabase 97 is always opened by the seller application 66 regardless ofwhich user logs in. The seller application database 97 contains amapping from the network-based transaction facility user ID to the userindependent database filename for that user, so the user independentdatabase filenames do not indicate the network-based transactionfacility user ID. This schema allows users to change their network-basedtransaction facility ID and keep using their existing user independentdatabase 94. That way, if a user does change their ID and/or password,they will not lose saved items.

Adaptability of the Seller Application

In the exemplary embodiment, the seller application 66 is adaptable foruse with targeted (e.g., geographically or otherwise targeted) sites.Seller application strings are stored in resource modules 81. Theresource modules 81 consist of DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries). The sellerapplication strings are the strings for the seller application 66language (e.g., primary language), which are distinguished from stringsthat appear in the targeted site language.

The user may choose the primary language that they want to work with andoptionally install other seller application 66 language versions. In theexemplary embodiment, switching primary languages requires a restart.The primary language may be different than the language of the targetedsite with which the user is communicating.

In the exemplary embodiment, the primary language utilized by the sellerapplication 66 is translated into the language of the targeted site withwhich the user intends to communicate. The translation may occur at theseller application 66 off-line or at the network-based transactionfacility 10 while the seller application 66 is connected to thenetwork-based transaction facility 10.

The targeted site language is the language and locale conventions usedat a particular targeted site. The collections of strings for thetargeted site language are also stored in the targeted site resourcemodule 87. The targeted site resource modules 87 may consist of DLLs(Dynamic Link Libraries). In the exemplary embodiment, the targeted sitedata provided by the collection of strings associated with the targetedsite language can be switched during execution to allow users to listitems on multiple targeted sites without restarting the sellerapplication 66. To accomplish the switching of a targeted site language,a targeted site resource module 87 should contain the correct collectionof strings for the targeted site's language.

In addition to the targeted site-specific translations of strings, thesetargeted resource module 87 can also contain targeted site-specificdialog layout variations, which would make it possible for userinterfaces utilized in the process of creating transaction listings 70to differ in appearance for different targeted sites. This offers userand designer flexibility while minimizing the amount of site-specificcode needed to facilitate the process of creating transaction listings70.

In the exemplary embodiment, there is some targeted site-specific XMLconfiguration data that contains updateable values (e.g., categories,attributes, valid formats, etc.). If this configuration data is modifiedfor targeted sites configured to work with the seller application 66,then the seller application 66 should be updated to reflect suchmodification. In the exemplary embodiment, modifiable targetedsite-specific data may be stored within targeted site resource module 87or XML files. The most current XML data is kept in the sellerapplication database 97.

Upgradability of the Seller Application

The seller application 66 is designed to allow upgrades of both dataelements and application modules. The upgrade manager module 92 andhelper module 93 are utilized to facilitate such upgrades. Data elementsare expected to change frequently. Data elements are acquired viaexisting API calls to the network-based transaction facility 10.Upgrading data elements gives the seller application 66 the latest setof categories, attributes, and targeted site-specific constants (e.g.,trading limits, publication durations, payment options, fee schedule,etc.). In the exemplary embodiment, the targeted site config file 86 isused to store targeted site data elements.

In the exemplary embodiment, the seller application 66 modules may beupgraded far less frequently than data elements. Upgrading the sellerapplication 66 modules provides the latest set of the seller application66 and targeted site language translations, computed rules (i.e., rulesthat relate user data to targeted site data), and targeted site-specificdialog layout.

In the exemplary embodiment, all of the seller application 66 modulesare upgradeable, even the main module 84. Upgrading of the modules isaccomplished using a helper module 93. After the download of newcomponents, a helper script is generated that instructs the helpermodule 93 to replace the seller application 66 modules with the newversions of the seller application 66 modules. Whenever the sellerapplication 66 is executed, this helper module 93 determines if thereare possible file replacements to do before launching the main module84.

In the exemplary embodiment, to support minimal upgrades, a versioningmechanism is used to compare available versions of data elements and theseller application 66 modules at the network-based transaction facility10 against the versions of the installed elements and modules of theseller application 66. Upgrades only attempt to download the sellerapplication 66 modules and/or data elements that have changed. Thedownloaded data may be compressed to shorten transfer times. Allowingboth code and data to be updated is a feature that maximizes theupgradability of the seller application 66.

In one embodiment, the network-based transaction facility 10 recognizesthat the seller application 66 has been enabled to support a targetedsite for which support has not yet been downloaded and installed. Uponrecognizing that such support has not been downloaded and installed, thenetwork-based transaction facility 10 downloads the targeted site'srequired support (e.g., data elements, the seller application 66 moduleupdates).

Main Module

In the exemplary embodiment, the seller application 66 main module 84will provide a MFC shell for all UI elements, which are displayed usingthe current application language (e.g., menu, toolbar, folders,inventory and listings view). The main module 84 is a starting point forthe seller application 66. All program flows and actions begin and endin the main module 84 regardless of whether they were initiatedprogrammatically or by a user.

At startup, the main module 84 dynamically loads a resource module 81based on the user's current application language setting. This settingis stored in the user independent database 94. To change the applicationlanguage, the user is required to restart the seller application 66 inorder for the change to be recognized. In an alternative embodiment, theapplication language may be changed without restarting the sellerapplication 66.

In the exemplary embodiment, the main module 84 is also responsible forcontrolling the security of the seller application 66 by requiring theuser to enter a password and connecting only to the user independentdatabase 94 associated with that user. The seller application 66 allowsonly one user independent database 94 to be used at a time. To use adifferent user ID, the user must select another user ID, and enter thepassword for that user ID. Alternatively, one could exit and run theprogram again to log on as another user.

The user ID and password used to logon to the seller application 66 maybe the same user ID and password configured for the user at thenetwork-based transaction facility 10. If the user changes his ID and/orpassword on the network-based transaction facility 10 without updatingthe seller application 66, then future attempts to communicate with thenetwork-based transaction facility 10 may fail. An error messageindicating a login failure will be provided to the user.

In the exemplary embodiment, the main module 84 allows only one instanceof the seller application 66 to execute on the user system at a time. Ifthe user tries to execute a second copy, the first executing instance isactivated (e.g., a window is restored and brought to the top of thedesktop). In an alternative embodiment, multiple seller applications 66may execute on a user's system at the same time.

When creating/editing new transaction listings 70, the main module 84calls the create transaction listing module 85. In the exemplaryembodiment, the main module 84 is a single threaded application and itdynamically loads the rest of the modules on demand.

The Seller Application Language Resource Module

In the exemplary embodiment, the resource module 81 provides the abilityto change the seller application 66 language without any code change. Inaddition, the resource module 81 allow for the addition of new sellerapplication 66 languages with minimum installation time and effort. Eachresource module 81 contains a complete set of resources for onelanguage. These resources include dialog templates, menus, icons andlanguage strings.

As explained above, a resource module 81 is loaded by the main module 84when the seller application 66 starts. The default seller application 66language is set when the seller application 66 is installed and itmatches the language of the network-based transaction facility 10targeted site (e.g., geographic) from which the seller application 66was obtained. Additional languages may be installed from thenetwork-based transaction facility 10.

In the exemplary embodiment, each resource module 81 contains a full setof all resources for the main module including:

-   -   String table    -   Dialog resources    -   Application icons, bitmaps, etc.

The resource module 81 may follow a naming convention so that the sellerapplication 66 knows which resource module 81 contains which language(e.g., res001.DLL is US English, res002.DLL is German, res003 is . . . ,etc.).

Data Objects Module

In the exemplary embodiment, the data objects module 83 provides a DBindependent data model to the seller application 66 for Categories,Domains, Attributes, Items, and Sites. The data objects module 83 mayconsist of a DLL (Dynamic Link Library).

Data objects included in the data objects module 83 provide the sellerapplication 66 with data-store independent access to data in the sellerapplication database 97. Data objects can encapsulate XML parsing whenthe data involved contains XML strings, providing the clients with C++accessor functions for data fields. If the client requires theunderlying XML, the data object module 83 may provide it.

There may be data objects for category, domain, attributes, and sitedata. In the exemplary embodiment, data objects are created with afactory function that is exported by the DLL that contains theimplementation code for the data objects. A factory function returns apointer to an interface supported by the data object. The supportedinterfaces are defined in a header file that is included by any clientcode that requires it.

Create/Edit Transaction Listing Module

In the exemplary embodiment, the seller application 66 create/edittransaction listing module 85 displays all UI (user interface) elementsin the targeted site's language. The create/edit transaction listingmodule 85 is configurable to show the right set of SYIfields/attributes/fees etc per targeted site. One feature provided bythe create/edit transaction listing module 85 is encapsulatingitem-related knowledge and logic in a single module to minimize the sizeof the future updates. Another feature is providing site languageindependent implementation to allow creation of transaction listings 70for the different targeted sites utilizing the seller application 66language. The create/edit transaction listing module 85 includes aninterface module 88 and a composer module 90. The interface module 88presents an input interface to a user to receive a plurality oftransaction listings 70, each of the plurality of transaction listings70 including a respective associated start time. The composer module 90may automatically compose a data file including the plurality oftransaction listings 70 received by the interface module 88. Thecommunication module 95 propagates the data file created by the composermodule 90 from the client computer to the network-based transactionfacility 10.

Targeted Site Resource Module

In the exemplary embodiment, targeted site resource modules 87 areprovided. Similar to the resource module 81, the targeted site resourcemodule 87 includes resources for just one language. Every time the usercreates a new transaction listing 70 or edits an existing transactionlisting 70, the create/edit transaction listing module 85 loads theappropriate targeted site resource module 87. The targeted site resourcemodule 87 contains dialog templates, icons, and language strings.

The targeted site resource module 87 may also include targeted sitedependent code. For example, code related to computations specific tothe targeted sites currency. During installation of the sellerapplication 66, one targeted site resource module 87 is provided to theseller application 66. This targeted site resource module 87 matches thedefault language of the installation. The default language is thelanguage of the targeted site from which the seller application 66 wasdownloaded. Other targeted site resource modules 87 may be downloadedfrom the network-based transaction facility 10 if the user would like tolist on multiple targeted sites.

A feature provided by the targeted site resource module 87 is providinglanguage differences in targeted sites as opposed to burdening thecreate/edit transaction listing module 85 or main module 84 with thatresponsibility. Another feature provided by the targeted site resourcemodule 87 is the ability to switch targeted sites easily withoutrestarting the seller application 66. A further additional feature ofthe targeted site resource module 87 is the ability to configure theseller application 66 to work with additional targeted sites easily(i.e., without altering create transaction listing module 85).

In the exemplary embodiment, each targeted site resource module 87contains a complete set of dialog resources utilized by the create/edittransaction listing module 85 for that targeted site. Most of theinformation in the targeted site resource module 87 change infrequently.Therefore, data elements that are expected to change often aredownloaded via a different mechanism (XML files) and the targeted siteresource module 87 is only downloaded when required due to a changeddialog layout, or changed translation.

Communication Module

In the exemplary embodiment, the communication module 95 providesconnectivity to the network-based transaction facility 10. Its servicesare used during several phases of the seller application 66 operationincluding checking versions of site data, checking software moduleversions, download of software modules, download of site data, and thepropagating of transaction listings 70 to the network-based transactionfacility 10.

The communication module 95 encapsulates formatting of standard elementsin API requests. The communication module 95 also provides a genericrequest/response function to be used for common tasks such as forexample getting version information, downloading software modules,downloading data elements, downloading all other miscellaneous datarelated to a targeted site, and creating new transaction listings 70.

Data Storage Module

The data storage module 89 manages access to and from the userindependent databases 94. The data to be accessed includes user itemlistings, user settings, and application wide data.

The data storage module 89 manages database access to the local on-diskstorage for both user files and applications wide data. This data may bestored in two types of files: one application database file (e.g., theseller application database 97) and one user database file (e.g., userindependent database 94) for each user that is created.

The seller application database 97 contains tables for the sellerapplication 66 settings, available categories for listings, andcategories attributes. In the case of categories and attributes tables,fields are created only for important fields and fields that need to beindexed. Otherwise data is stored in XML blobs.

The user independent database 94 contains tables for user settings andfor items. Again, fields are created only for important fields andfields that need to be indexed. Otherwise data is stored in XML blobs.

Import Engine Module

The import engine module 91 provides for the ability to importtransaction listings 70 from applications other than the sellerapplication 66.

Upgrade Manager Module

The upgrade manager module 92 is used to keep the seller application 66up-to-date, which involves managing several types of data andcomponents:

-   -   Application components    -   EXEs, DLLs, etc.    -   Site configuration data    -   Categories    -   Attributes    -   options, restrictions, etc.    -   User configuration data    -   Store info    -   Trading limits    -   Payment address    -   etc.

In the exemplary embodiment, the most current data and components may befound at the network-based transaction facility 10 and it is the sellerapplication's 66 responsibility to perform any required updates beforepropagating transaction listings 70 to the network-based transactionfacility 10.

The network-based transaction facility 10 may have updated versions ofdata but the update might not be required. In this situation, the useris made aware of the optional update and is given the option to not toreceive the update.

Also, the network-based transaction facility 10 may have updatedversions of more than one type of data for the seller application 66.Some of the updates may be required and some may not. In the exemplaryembodiment if any available updates are required, all available updatesare downloaded. Also, in the exemplary embodiment, if the user choosesto perform an optional upgrade, all available updated data and modulesare downloaded and applied. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment,compression may be utilized to expedite the transfer of updates from thenetwork-based transaction facility 10 to the seller application 66.

Each upgradeable file has an associated version. The version includesthe file name, major version, minor version, and timestamp. The sellerapplication 66 may be summarized by an array of version objects. In oneembodiment, the following is a summary of the versionable files:

-   -   seller application component files    -   seller_application.exe    -   Helper.exe    -   CreateTransactionListing.dll    -   Res001.dll    -   seller_application data files    -   Site001.xml (contains categories, domains, fees, options, etc.)    -   User003.xml

A “version string” is an XML element with fields for the versioncomponents major, minor, timestamp, filename, and upgrade requirements.These elements can be concatenated together to describe the entiresystem version. The following is an example of an exemplary versionstring:

<SELLERAPP_FILE_VERSION>     <FILENAME>RES001. DLL<FILENAME>    <MAJOR>1<MAJOR>     <MINOR>8<MINOR>    <TIMESTAMP>030802:22:01:01<TIMESTAMP>     <MINIMUM_VERSION_REQUIRED>      <MAJOR>1</MAJOR>       <MINOR>7</MINOR>    </MINIMUM_VERSION_REQUIRED>     // optional    <FILE_URL>http://www.ebay.comfiles/sellerapp/res00l.dll.gzip  </FILE_URL>     <INSTALLED/> </SELLERAPP_FILE_VERSION>

In the exemplary embodiment, a version comparison of files at the sellerapplication 66 and the network-based transaction facility 10 is utilizedin determining if updates to the seller application 66 modules or thedata elements are required. The MINIMUM_VERSION_REQUIRED fields are usedto version files at the network-based transaction facility 10. If auser's seller application 66 version is lower than (or older than) theminimum version required, then the update is required. If the user'sseller application 66 version is equal or greater than (or newer than)the minimum version required, then the upgrade of this file is optional.

In the exemplary embodiment, the user may reject either optional orrequired updates. However, if updates are required and the user refusesto accept them, the user may be limited in future communications withthe network-based transaction facility 10. For example, if a userrefuses to accept required updates for a targeted site config file 86(e.g., category updates), then that user may not be allowed to propagatetransaction listings 70 to the network-based transaction facility 10 forthe targeted site.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method 100, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, of adapting (i.e.,customizing) the seller application 66 for use with a targeted site. Theexemplary seller application 66 facilitates communication of listings toa network-based transaction facility 10. In one exemplary embodiment, anetwork-based transaction facility 10 supports multiple targeted sites(e.g., web sites). In an alternative exemplary embodiment anetwork-based transaction facility 10 supports one targeted site.

Referring to FIG. 7, a diagram 130 of an exemplary seller application 66communicating with multiple web sites is provide. The seller application66 may work with one web site (e.g., 132) or multiple web sites (e.g.,132, 134, 136, 138, and 140). Furthermore, the seller application 66 maywork with web sites belonging to one network-based transaction facility10 (e.g., 142) or the seller application 66 may work with multiple websites (e.g., 132, 134, 140) all belonging to separate network-basedtransaction facilities 10 (142, 144, and 146). For example, the sellerapplication 66 may work with both the www.facility3.us 142 web site andthe www.facility2.jp web site 138. In the exemplary embodiment theseller application 66 may work with a broad range of web sites (e.g.,commercial, educational, charitable, political, entertainment oriented,etc . . . ). In one embodiment, the seller application 66 may beconfigured to work only with web sites, which belong to a specificnetwork-based transaction facility 10.

Returning to FIG. 5, in the exemplary method 100, the seller application66 is utilized by a user at a client machine 38 for propagatingtransaction listings 70 to a network-based transaction facility 10. Themethod 100 commences at block 102 at a user request to access thenetwork-based transaction facility 10. At block 104 the user's identityis verified. In order to access the network-based transaction facility10 via the seller application 66, the user must have previously obtainedlogin information (e.g., UserID and Password). At block 106 the user isidentified as a first time user.

The user identified as a first time user is requested to enterinformation including but not limited to a billing address, a personaladdress, a payment address, and the regional or demographic-specificsites at which the user wishes to list items (e.g., to propagatetransaction listings 70). At block 108 the user selects the targetedsites at which to list items from a plurality of targeted sitespresented to the user. In one embodiment, a targeted site may representmultiple countries. The user may select the targeted site preferencesoffline. Such offline selections become effective when the user connectsto the network-based transaction facility 10 and the selections arerecognized.

At block 110, the user's seller application 66 is configured (e.g., setup) so that it may communicate with the targeted sites selected. In theexemplary embodiment, such configuration comprises enabling the sellerapplication 66 to utilize each targeted site's currency when workingwith currency related fields for each of the targeted sites. That is,where relevant, operations involving currency are in the currency typeof the targeted sites selected. Such operations include inputtingcurrency values, displaying currency value, and calculating currencyvalues. Configuration further may include preventing the propagation ofcertain transaction listings 70 (e.g., alcohol or tobacco at commercialweb site serving teenagers). In the exemplary embodiment, configurationmay further include providing the seller application 66 with categoryand attribute options available at, or specific to, the targeted siteselected. Moreover, the exemplary embodiment configures the sellerapplication 66 to work in the designated corresponding language of thetargeted site selected. Configuration of the seller application 66 mayfurther include but is not limited to providing the available formattypes (e.g. Auction, Store Items (fixed-price), etc.), reserve priceoptions, payment options, shipping options, checkout options, pictureservice options, and options related to fees for each transactionlisting 70.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method 120, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, of scheduling listings,via the seller application 66, at the network-based transaction facility10. In the exemplary method 120, the seller application 66 is utilizedby a user at a client machine for propagating transaction listings 70and their respective listing times to a network-based transactionfacility 10. The respective listing time is the date and time at which atransaction listing 70 is published by a network-based transactionfacility 10 on a website. This may include but is not limited totransaction listings 70 to be sold, auctioned, bartered, given away, ordisplayed. At block 122 a user interface for receiving a plurality oftransaction listings 70 and their respective associated start times atthe seller application 66 is presented to the user. At block 124 batchtext 68 (e.g., data file) is composed at the seller application 66 toinclude the plurality of transaction listings 70 and their respectivestart times. At block 126, the batch text created in block 124 ispropagated to the network-based transaction facility 10. In theexemplary embodiment, the user may include multiple transaction listings70 in the batch text 68, each including their respective start times. Inthe exemplary embodiment the user creates the batch text 68 whileworking offline. However, in alternative embodiments, the user may beconnected to the network-based transaction facility 10 and enter eachtransaction listing 70 directly into the network-based transactionfacility 10, via the seller application 66.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method 150, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, of scheduling the listingof transaction listings 70 at a network-based transaction facility 10.In the exemplary method 150, transaction listing(s) 70 are provided tothe network-based transaction facility 10 from a user, via the sellerapplication 66. The user may provide the transaction listing(s) 70within a data file communicated via the seller application 66 to thenetwork-based transaction facility 10. At block 152, the transactionlistings 70 and their respective start times are received by thenetwork-based transaction facility 10. At block 154, the network-basedtransaction facility 10 schedules the publication of each transactionlisting 70 according to each of the transaction listings respectiveassociated start time. At block 156, the transaction listings 70 arepublished according to the schedule devised in block 154.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method 160, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, of entering a transactionlisting 70 description via a transaction listing 70 descriptioninterface. In the exemplary method 160, the seller application 66 isutilized by a user at a client machine for propagating transactionlistings 70 and their respective listing times to a network-basedtransaction facility 10. At block 162 the user indicates a desire toenter a new transaction listing 70. At block 164 the user is prompted toenter the transaction listing's 70 description via a transaction listingdescription interface (i.e., “WYSIWYG interface”). The transactionlisting description interface may also be known as a custom inputscreen. In the exemplary embodiment, the WYSIWYG interface includes afirst compose user interface via which text can be input and graphicsselected to be included in a transaction listing 70. Also, in theexemplary embodiment, the WYSIWYG interface includes a second previewuser interface to present a preview of the transaction listing 70 as itwill be presented at the network-based transaction facility 10. In oneembodiment, the WYSIWYG interface includes a third compose userinterface to present the transaction listing 70 in a descriptor language(e.g., HTML) which the user may modify. At block 166 the user completesand saves the transaction listing 70.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating a method 170, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, of facilitating theupdating/upgrading of the seller application 66. In the exemplary method170, at block 172, the network-based transaction facility 10 receives auser request to connect. The request is entered via the sellerapplication 66. At block 174, the requestor login information isreceived and verified. In one embodiment verification includes verifyingthe UserID and Login. In an alternative embodiment verification furtherincludes verifying user status. For example, if the user is suspendedfrom listing transaction listings 70 at the network-based transactionfacility 10 access may be denied. At block 176, upon verification, thenetwork-based transaction facility 10 downloads updates/upgrades to theseller application 66. Before the network-based transaction facility 10downloads updates/upgrades to the seller application 66, a determinationas to whether updates/upgrades exist for the seller application 66, ifso, then such existing updates/upgrades are downloaded to the sellerapplication 66. In the exemplary embodiment, updates/upgrades include,for example, category updates, attributes updates, program informationupdates and version upgrades. Also, in the exemplary embodiment,updates/upgrades may only be downloaded to the seller application 66 ifautomatic updating is enabled at the seller application 66. At block178, the seller application 66 updates/upgrades automatically install atthe client machine upon being received.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a method 180, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, of downloading the sellerapplication 66 from the network-based transaction facility 10 to aclient machine 38.

At block 182, the network-based transaction facility 10 receives arequest to download the seller application 66. In one embodiment, thisrequest may be received by user-selection of a hypertext link, or otherlocation identifier, presented to the user within the context of amarkup language document displayed by the browser application 36.

At block 184, the network-based transaction facility 10 further receivesthe requesting user's identifier. The user identifier is provided by theuser via an interface, for example, presented to the user in the form ofa markup language document displayed by the browser application 36.

At decision block 186, a determination is made by the network-basedtransaction facility 10 as to whether the requesting user maintainscredit card details with the network-based transaction facility 10.Specifically, should the requesting user be a registered user of thenetwork-based transaction facility 10, the network-based transactionfacility 10 may during a registration process request the relevant userto provide details of a valid credit card.

At decision block 188, a determination is made by the network-basedtransaction facility 10 as to whether a negative feedback rating for therequesting user exceeds a predetermined minimum. Specifically, in oneembodiment, the network-based transaction facility 10 provides afeedback mechanism by which users may provide feedback regarding otherusers with which they have transacted. Such a feedback mechanism isuseful for establishing trust between users of the network-basedtransaction facility 10, and also provides an indication of thetrustworthiness and reliability of the user.

At decision block 190, a determination is made as to whether therequested user has been a registered user of the network-basedtransaction facility 10 for a predetermined time period. For example,should the requesting user have only been a registered user for a numberof hours, or less than a week, insufficient time may have passed toestablish the credibility, trustworthiness and reliability of therequesting user. Further, a user seeking to perpetrate a fraud utilizingthe network-based transaction facility 10 may register under an aliasfor the specific purposes of perpetrating such a fraud. The checkperformed at block 190 seeks to reduce access to the seller application66 by a user who has not been registered for a sufficient period of timeso as to increase the probability of the detection of a fraudulentregistration.

Following a negative determination at any one of decision blocks 186,188 or 190, the method 180 denies the download request at block 194. Onthe other hand, following positive determinations at each of decisionblocks 186, 188 and 190, the network-based transaction facility 10, atblock 192, proceeds to download the seller application 66 to the clientmachine 38 via the internet 34. The method 180 then terminates at block196.

FIG. 12 is a detailed flow chart illustrating detailed method 200,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, ofcustomizing (or configuring) the seller application 66 utilized topropagate transaction listings 70 and their respective start times to anetwork-based transaction facility 10.

Through customizing the seller application 66, a user may utilize theseller application 66 to list transaction listings 70 at multipletargeted sites (e.g., geographically targeted sites for each of the US,Germany, UK, etc . . . ). The default display language of the sellerapplication 66 may match the local language of the targeted site fromwhich it was downloaded. The user interfaces provided to create and edittransaction listings 70 for a specific targeted site displays in acustomized manner (e.g., in the targeted site's local language). Forexample, if a user downloads the seller application 66 from thenetwork-based transaction facility's 10 Germany site, the user interfacemay be presented in German. In a further example, if a user chose tocreate an item to be listed at the Taiwan targeted site, the Createtransaction listing 70 flow (i.e., series of user interfaces presented)would display in Chinese. If the user wanted to edit that item later,the Edit Item panel text would display in Chinese.

If the seller application 66 needs to display text in a language thatthe user does not have a font pack installed for, the user is promptedto download or install that font pack from the network-based transactionfacility 10. In the exemplary embodiment, the font pack is automaticallydownloaded and installed when the user notifies the network-basedtransaction facility 10, via the seller application 66, that it wouldlike to list at a targeted site for which a unique font pack isrequired. The seller application 66 allows the addition of additionaltargeted site(s). The ability to utilize additional targeted sitesrequires the user selecting the additional targeted sites, thenetwork-based transaction facility 10 downloading any required softwaremodule and data elements to the user's seller application, installingthe software and data elements, and configuring the seller application66 to utilize the newly installed software and data elements. The usermay select additional targeted sites from the seller application 66while working offline or while connected to the network-basedtransaction facility 10.

The content is displayed for the user in a customized manner, forexample, in the current language configured for the seller application66. The content displayed online (e.g., at the targeted site) is in thelocal language of the current targeted site. In the exemplaryembodiment, dates displayed at the seller application 66 appear in theformat that corresponds with the current targeted site selected. In analternative embodiment, the dates displayed at the seller application 66appear in the language selected by the user at the seller application66.

The seller application 66 may support site-specific transactionparameters, such as trading limits. For example, targeted sites may havetrading limits implemented. Trading limits are a preset amount, varyingby site, of fees a seller may accrue without having a credit card onfile. If a seller has placed his/her credit card information on file forautomatic monthly billing, the network-based transaction facility 10allows the seller unlimited listing, assuming the credit cardinformation is valid. Otherwise, when the trading limit is reached theseller may be unable to list any new items until a payment is made tobring the balance of the account below the trading limit or a creditcard number is placed on the account.

The network-based transaction facility 10 performs a trading limit checkwhen a user attempts to send transaction listing(s) 70 in batch text 68via seller application 66. If the fees corresponding to a transactionlisting 70 to be published at the network-based transaction facility 10would cause the user to exceed their trading limit, the network-basedtransaction facility 10 may not allow the transaction listing(s) 70 tobe propagated. In the exemplary embodiment, if the trading limit isexceeded before all transaction listings 70 in batch text 68 are read,the network-based transaction facility 10 accepts all transactionlistings 70 read before the trading limit was exceeded.

The trading limit check applies to the targeted site of registration fora user. For example, if a targeted site (e.g., German transaction site)has trading limits, the trading limit check for is performed every timea user registered with the German transaction site attempts to senditems to the network-based transaction facility 10, regardless of thetargeted site to which they are submitting their listings.

When a particular targeted site is chosen, the country's correspondingcurrency is utilized by the seller application 66. For example, when theU.S. targeted site is selected, all fees display in US$. In analternative embodiment, the seller application 66 utilizes currenciesfrom multiple countries. For example, in the alternative embodiment,when the U.S. targeted site is selected, all fees display in U.S.currency and Canadian currency. In the exemplary embodiment, the sellerapplication 66 recognizes and applies formatting unique to theparticular targeted site with which the user has selected. As anexample, for Germany and Taiwan, currency fields may only allow wholenumbers. Also, US, AU, CA, UK include a decimal separator (for cents).In addition, France, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Germany,Belgium(France), and Belgium(Netherlands) have a comma separator (forcents). Moreover, Netherlands and Belgium(Netherlands) have a commaseparator for “Buy It Now” (BIN) and Reserve Price, but only allow wholenumbers for minimum Bid.

Referring back to FIG. 12, the method 200 commences at block 202 where auser starts the seller application 66. The method 200 progresses toblock 204, where the seller application 66 present a welcome screen 250,an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in FIG. 13A. The welcomescreen 250 provides the option to exit 252, open a sample file 254,create a new file 256, or open a sample file 258. In the exemplaryembodiment, upon selecting one of options 252-258, the “next” button 260is selected to initiate the option selection. In an alternativeembodiment, options 252-258 are initiated automatically upon theirselection.

If open a sample file 254 is chosen, the method 200 progresses to block206, where the user is presented with a sample screen of transactionlistings 70. However, if create a new file 256 is chosen, the method 200progresses to block 210, where the process of entering transactionlistings 70 into a collection (e.g., batch text 68) is initiated.

On the other hand, if open an existing file 258 is chosen, the method200 progresses to block 208, where the process of opening an existingcollection (e.g., batch text 68) is initiated.

In the exemplary embodiment, if create a new file 256 is chosen at block210, then the method 200 progresses to block 212, where the sellerapplication 66 presents a login interface 262, an exemplary embodimentof which is shown in FIG. 13B. A userid 264 and password 266 arerequested at login interface 262. The login interface 262 includes acheckbox 268 to notify the network-based transaction facility 10 of adesire to use the seller application 66 with multiple targeted orcustomized sites. In the exemplary embodiment, the userid and passwordmust be obtained in advance of the user creating a new file. In analternative embodiment, the user may obtain a userid and password uponconnecting to the network-based transaction facility 10.

At block 214, the user issues a request to connect with thenetwork-based transaction facility 10. In the exemplary embodiment, toconnect with the network-based transaction facility 10 the next button270 from login interface 262 is selected after entering a userid andpassword. The method 200 then progresses to block 216, where the sellerapplication 66 presents a connection interface 272, an exemplaryembodiment of which is shown in FIG. 13C.

At block 216, the userid and password are verified upon selection of the“connect now” 274 button in connection interface 272. If thenetwork-based transaction facility 10 is unable to verify the userid andpassword, the user is requested to reenter the userid and password atlogin interface 262.

After verification at block 216, the method 200 progresses to block 218,where the seller application 66 presents personal information interface276, an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in FIG. 13D. Suchpersonal information is utilized to identify the user, ensure security,and facilitate the transaction process between users accessing thenetwork-based transaction facility 10. The user information may be usedto populate user preference fields (e.g., payment address andtransaction listing's location) and to determine the user defaulttargeted site. In the exemplary embodiment, the seller application 66includes a default targeted site. In the embodiment, the defaulttargeted site is the site from which the user downloaded the sellerapplication 66. However, the user may edit the default targeted site.

At block 220, a determination as to whether the user would like to usethe seller application 66 at multiple targeted sites. Following anegative determination at block 220, the seller application 66 isconfigured at block 222 to work only with the targeted site (e.g., U.S.)from which it was downloaded. In one embodiment, to configure the sellerapplication 66 includes configuring the seller application 66 tocommunicate with the network-based transaction facility 10 according toconventions associated with the targeted site selected. Also, in 42 oneembodiment, to configure the seller application 66 includes configuringthe seller application 66 to present information to the user in a mannerconsistent with the conventions associated with the targeted siteselected. On the other hand, following a positive determination at block220, the method 200 progresses to block 224, where the sellerapplication 66 presents targeted site interface 280, an exemplaryembodiment of which is shown in FIG. 13E.

At block 224, multiple targeted sites to be utilized by the sellerapplication 66 may be selected. In the exemplary embodiment, targetedsite interface 280 presents the available targeted sites. It will beappreciated that other targeted sites may define more or less than atargeted site or any other attribute by which a targeted site isdistinguished. For example, with regards to targeted sites distinguishedby country name, a targeted site may define more than one country (e.g.,continent), less than a country (e.g., region of a country, state,territory, province, etc . . . ). The user may select a targeted site byselecting a checkbox next to the desired targeted site. Multipletargeted sites may be selected. In an alternative embodiment, the usermay select targeted sites by scrolling down a list and highlightingdesired targeted sites.

At block 226, configuration information corresponding to the targetedsites selected at block 224 is transmitted from the network-basedtransaction facility 10 to the seller application 66. At block 228, theseller application 66 is automatically configured with the informationdownloaded at block 226. In the exemplary embodiment, configuration ofthe seller application may include providing software module updates,category updates, attribute updates, targeted site language updates,primary language updates, miscellaneous software miscellaneous dataelements, etc . . . . Upon completion of the configuration at block 228,the seller application 66 is available to propagate transaction listings70 and their respective start times to each of the targeted sitesselected at block 224. The method 200 concludes at block 230.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show a detailed flow chart illustrating a method 300,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, ofscheduling transaction listings 70, via the seller application 66, atthe network-based transaction facility 10. In one embodiment, the method300 is performed at the client-side 35 by the stand-alone, executablethe seller application 66. In alternative embodiments, the method 300may be executed by a client-side 35 executable, such as a Java applet oran ActiveX control, that executes when the context of a browserapplication. Intelligence resides and executes on the client-side 35 tofacilitate the convenient entry of multiple transaction listings 70 by,for example, providing templates that allow for a user to definerepetitive content across multiple transaction listings 70. This avoidsrequiring repetitive entry for each transaction listing 70. Further, themethod 300 introduces client-side 35 functionality to perform averification operation on inputted data to check for allowable contents,and the legality of contents. Also, the method 300 proposes presentinglists for allowable contents, for example as drop-down menus, from whicha user may select valid contents for a particular field of a transactionlisting 70. Moreover, the method 300 provides the option to schedule thetransaction listings 70.

The method 300 commences at block 302 with the invoking of the sellerapplication 66 on the client machine 38 of a user wishing to compose andpropagate multiple transaction listings 70 and their scheduled starttimes to a network-based transaction facility 10. For example, a highvolume user of a network-based transaction facility 10 may wish topropagate multiple transaction listings 70, and thus invokes the sellerapplication 66. In one embodiment, the user may be charged a fee by thenetwork-based transaction facility 10 for each transaction listing 70propagated by the seller application 66 to the network-based transactionfacility 10. In the exemplary embodiment, the fee is based on the userlevel of service (e.g., high volume user discount).

At block 304, the seller application 66 executes to present a new itembox. The new item box presented at block 304 comprises a Create a NewItem interface 350, an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in FIG.15A. The new item box prompts the user to select a type of transactioncorresponding to the transaction listing 70. In the exemplaryembodiment, the type of transactions available at Create a New Iteminterface 350 include but are not limited to Auctions 352, Stores 364,and Ad Format 380. Moreover, Create a New Item interface 350 provides adrop down site list 358, from which a targeted (e.g., country) site towhich the transaction listing 70 (or batch text 68 including multipletransaction listings 70) is to be propagated. In the exemplaryembodiment, if no selection is made at drop down list 358, the targetedsite from which the seller application 66 was downloaded is chosen.

At block 306, the user selects the next option presented in associationwith the Create a New Item interface 350, responsive to which the sellerapplication 66 prompts the user for information (e.g., title, category,etc.) associated with the transaction listing 70. In one exemplaryembodiment, the prompting at block 306 is performed via a new iteminterface 362, an example of which is shown in FIG. 15B that includes anumber of fields that may be populated by the user to compose thetransaction listing 70. Separate dialog boxes are presented in the eventthat a user selects either the stores format 354 or ad format 356 inCreate a New Item interface 350.

In the exemplary embodiment, the new item interface 362 is shown toinclude multiple input fields for receiving the item title 364, thefirst item category 366, the second item category 368, and the storecategory 370. Each of the three category input fields include a dropdown list to facilitate user selection of a category. The new iteminterface 362 further includes attributes 376. Attributes arecategory-specific information items that the seller can specify to helpbuyers find items, and may not exist for all categories. An examplewould be the category of Real Estate—Residential. For example, whenlisting an item in this category, a user may be prompted to specifyNumber of bedrooms, Number of bathrooms, Square footage, AirConditioning, Pool (drop-down with: No, Inground, Out-of-Ground), etc .. . . The attributes allow a buyer to specify that they want to find anitem in the Real Estate—Residential category according to the availableattributes (e.g., Number of bedrooms, Number of bathrooms), etc . . . .Examples of some of the other categories with attributes includeComputers (e.g., processor speed, hard drive size), Clothing (e.g.,type, brand, color), and Tickets (e.g., event type, city, state, facevalue). Virtually any category may be further described using attributes376. To facilitate convenient navigation between the multiple screensutilized in creating the transaction listing 70, “previous” and “next”buttons 372 and 374 are also displayed, user-selection of which allows auser sequentially to progress through multiple screens.

At block 308, the user selects the next option presented in associationwith the new item interface 362, responsive to which the sellerapplication 66 prompts the user for more detailed descriptiveinformation (e.g., transaction listing description) associated with thetransaction listing 70. In one exemplary embodiment, the prompting atblock 308 is performed via a transaction listing description interface450, such as that shown in FIG. 16A. The transaction listing descriptioninterface 450 is further described below with reference to FIG. 17.

After the transaction listing description has been entered at block 308,the method 300 progresses to block 310, where the seller application 66presents a format specifics interface 378, an exemplary embodiment ofwhich is shown in FIG. 15C. Various data items may be included in theformat specific interface 378. Exemplary data items are shown to includethe listings duration time, pricing, quantity, payment and shipping dataitems. An “optional features” area with multiple checkboxes is alsopresented so as to allow a user to specify that a particular transactionbe visually or otherwise differentiated or highlighted when displayed bythe network-based transaction facility 10. For example, a transactionlisting 70 may be bolded, displayed with a particular background color,or have a graphic image or icon associated therewith.

At block 312, the user selects a save option 380 presented inassociation with the format specific interface 378, responsive to whichthe seller application 66 performs a verification check to determinewhether the user has inputted sufficient data items to constitute avalid transaction listing 70, or whether further information isrequired. For example, the user may inadvertently have forgotten toinput a starting price.

Following a positive verification, the method 300 progresses to block314, shown in FIG. 14B, where the seller application 66 presents aninventory interface 382, an exemplary embodiment of which is shown inFIG. 15D. The item inventory interface 382 presents a selectable list oftransaction listings 70 in a collection 306 associated with the targetedsite selected at block 304. The user may proceed to enter another itemto be included in the collection 306 by selecting the create new 384button. In the exemplary embodiment, the user may also delete 386 oredit 388 transaction listings 70 via the item inventory interface 382.

In the exemplary embodiment, the inventory interface 382 presents alisting summary of all transaction listings 70 that constitute the batchtext 68. Specifically, the main window 390 may include columns thatdisplay title, quantity, minimum price, reserve price and premiumlisting price information in a tabular form to the user. A user maydouble-click on any of the rows of transaction listings 70 presented inthe main window to facilitate editing or deleting transaction listings70.

In the exemplary embodiment, a scheduled start date and start time 392at which the relevant batch text collection 68 of transaction listings70 should be posted by the network-based transaction facility 10 may beselected. If the user does not wish to provide a scheduled start dateand time, the scheduled start time default is to start immediately 394upon propagation to the network-based transaction facility 10. In analternate embodiment, a start date and time may be specified for eachlisting 70 within the collection 306.

At block 316, the user elects to provide a scheduled start date andstart time 392 at which the collection 306 of transaction listings 70 isto be published at the network-based transaction facility 10.

At block 318, the user may optionally specify an interval 396 to staggerthe multiple transaction listings 70 in the collection 306 apart by whenthey are published at the network-based transaction facility 10. Forexample, the user may specify the collection 306 of transaction listings70 to start 7/4/2002 at 9:00 PM and further specify that an interval offive minutes be included between each of the transaction listings 70 inthe collection 306. Therefore, if there were three transaction listings70 in the collection 306, the first one would start at 9:00 PM, thesecond at 9:05 PM, and the third at 9:10 PM. The word “start” may alsobe recognized as published at the targeted site selected.

At block 320, the user selects the add to propagate option 398 presentedin association with the item inventory interface 382, responsive towhich the seller application 66 provides the listings waiting topropagate interface 400, an exemplary embodiment of which is provided inFIG. 15E.

At block 322, the user selects the propagate all option 402 presented inassociation with the waiting to propagate interface 400, responsive towhich the seller application 66 prompts the user for a network-basedtransaction facility password.

At block 324, upon user verification, the collection 306 of transactionlistings 70 is propagated to the network-based transaction facility 10.

In one embodiment, batch text 68 is, as described above, propagated fromthe client machine 38 to the network-based transaction facility 10 viathe network-based transaction facility API. In alternative embodiments,batch text 68 may be transferred via an e-mail message.

Each transaction listing 70 may include a transaction listingdescription. In the exemplary embodiment, the transaction listingdescription may be entered via a transaction listing descriptioninterface 450, an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in FIG. 16A.The transaction listing 70 includes but is not limited to text, aphotograph or photographs, and formatting (e.g. layout, color, font, etc. . . ). In the exemplary embodiment, the transaction listingdescription interface 450 provides three selectable dialog boxes tofacilitate entering the transaction listing description. The threedialog box options include a design view option 452, an HTML view option454, and a preview view option 456. The design view option 452, ifselected, allows a user to enter descriptive text 458 in a WYSIWYGsetting. The HTML view option 454 allows a user to enter HTML code fortheir transaction listing description. The preview view option 456allows a user to preview the transaction listing description accordingto the HTML that has been defined by the WYSIWYG editor or HTML codeinput by the user. An exemplary embodiment of a Preview view dialog box478 is shown in FIG. 16C.

Using a design view dialog box 466, the user may input descriptive text458 and format it using editing tools. If the user has multi-sitesupport enabled, a tip is displayed indicating that it is preferred thattransaction listings 70 be in the local language of each targeted site.A design view toolbar includes toolbar items the user may use to formattheir description. Each toolbar button may have a tooltip.

In the exemplary embodiment, double-byte character languages theavailable fonts and text controls are displayed appropriately. Forexample, Chinese fonts are a different set than Western, and are notcompatible with Bold, Italic, or Underline. If the user is writing inChinese, Chinese fonts are available and only applicable text controlsshould display.

Descriptive text 458 entered in the design view dialog box 466 isinterpreted as text, including descriptor text (e.g., HTML code).However, a user may enter descriptor text in a descriptor text viewdialog box 470, an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in FIG. 16B.The descriptor text (e.g., HTML code) is entered in a descriptorlanguage code window 472. The descriptor language code window 472automatically populates with descriptor text (e.g., HTML code) accordingto any text entered previously in the design view dialog box 466.

In an exemplary embodiment, the transaction listing descriptioninterface 450 further provides templates 460 to enhance the transactionlisting 70. The templates may each include a theme (e.g., includes colorscheme) 462 and layout 464 as shown in FIG. 16A. The themes 462 andlayouts 464 may be selected independently. In addition, a user may addphotos to a transaction listing 70 via the transaction listingdescription interface 450. The photos may be added via photo serviceavailable through the network-based transaction facility 10 or anothernetwork facility, through a user's self-hosted picture service, or froma collection of pictures stored on a user's computer. The photos may beadded into image wells included within the transaction listingdescription interface 450.

Themes 462 may define the table border colors, any border images,background colors (description area only), etc. Layouts 464 may providethe display location of the description text and photos. The layouts 464displayed to the user may be particular to their photo hostingpreference. The seller application 66 may also provide an “Auto-resize”option. This option, if enabled, resizes the user's image to the optimaltemplate image size.

A set of default color schemes and layouts may also be provided by theseller application 66. Between 5 and 10 of each (e.g., color schemes andlayouts) may be provided. The network-based transaction facility 10 mayupdate and add templates via updates/upgrades to the seller application66. In an alternative embodiment, users may design their own layouts andthemes. In a further alternate embodiment, layouts and themes may beimported.

Additional special features including supersize 463 and slideshow 465may be used to enhance and/or alter the display of photos. In oneexemplary embodiment, the supersize option 463 is included in the leftnavbar of the transaction listing description interface 450. In theexemplary embodiment, supersize 463 may be applied to all IPIX photosthat qualify. Also in the exemplary embodiment, the supersize 463 optionis only available for users who are utilizing the network-basedtransaction facility 10 picture service. The supersize 463 option allowsthe user to enlarge the size of an image to be included in theirtransaction listing 70.

The slideshow 465 feature may be selected via a special, slideshow-onlylayout. The dialog displayed from this template allows the addition ofup to 6 photos at once as opposed to merely one photo. Therefore, theslideshow 465 feature allows a user to add up to six photos in one imagewell as opposed to only one photo. Photos added via the slideshow 465feature are displayed with the transaction listing 70 at thenetwork-based transaction facility 10. A slideshow includes thepresentation of a series of photos displayed one at a time. The photosare displayed at the same position on a display. For example, a userviewing a transaction listing 70 including a slide show is provided witheach photo (e.g., photos 1-6) for a period of time defined by thenetwork-based transaction facility 10 (e.g., 5 seconds). The series ofphotos in the slide show are continually rotated through until one isselected, or the user closes or exits the window including thetransaction listing 70.

FIG. 17 is a detailed flow chart illustrating a method 500, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention, of entering atransaction listing description via a transaction listing descriptioninterface 450. The method 500 commences at block 502, where the sellerapplication 66 presents a transaction listing description interface 450.As described above, the transaction listing description interface 450includes design view option 452, HTML view option 454, and preview viewoption 456.

At block 504, the user selects the design view option 452, responsive towhich the seller application 66 presents the user with the design viewdialog box 466. In the exemplary embodiment, design view dialog box 466is the default dialog box and is presented to the user in thetransaction listing description interface 450 at block 502. At block506, the user enters descriptive text 458 at the design view dialog box466. The user may select the preview view option 456 or the HTML viewoption 454 while in the design view dialog box 466.

At block 508, the user selects the HTML view option 454, responsive towhich the seller application 66 presents the user with the descriptorlanguage dialog box 470, an exemplary embodiment of which is shown inFIG. 19B. The descriptor language dialog box 470 descriptor languagecode portion 472 automatically populates with descriptor language code(e.g., HTML code) according to the descriptive text 458 previouslyentered at block 506. The user may modify (e.g., add, delete, edit) thedescriptor language code in the descriptor language code portion.

At block 510, the user selects preview view option 456, responsive towhich the seller application 66 presents the user with preview viewdialog box 478, an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in FIG. 16C.The preview view dialog box 478 displays the transaction listing'sdescription as it appears when published at the network-basedtransaction facility 10. Content may not be edited in the preview viewdialog box 478.

At decision block 512, a determination is made as to whether the userwants to enter a photo corresponding to the transaction listing 70.

At block 514, if a photo is to be entered, the photo is retrieved andattached to the transaction listing 70. The user initiates the photoselection process by selecting the “select photo” button from the designview dialog box 466. In exemplary embodiments, the network-basedtransaction facility 10 photo hosting service may be utilized, a userspecified hosting service may be utilized or the photos may be selectedfrom a collection stored on the user's computer.

At block 516, a layout 464 to be utilized in the display of thetransaction listing 70 is chosen. The layout 464 is a selectable optionavailable at the WYSIWYG interface. A default layout is utilized if noneis chosen.

At block 518, a theme 462 to be utilized in the display of thetransaction listing 70 is chosen. The theme 462 is a selectable optionat the WYSIWYG interface. A default theme is utilized if none is chosen.The method 500 concludes at block 1210.

FIG. 18 is a detailed flow chart illustrating a method 550, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention, of schedulinglistings, entered via the seller application 66, after they are receivedat a network-based transaction facility 10. In an exemplary embodimentthe transaction listings 70 define the parameters and content of anon-line commercial process (e.g., on-line store, on-line auction).Nonetheless, it will be appreciated that a transaction listing 70 mayprovide any transaction parameters (e.g., a product or service that isbeing offered for sale by any methodology, or a product servicerequirement description). Specifically, in an alternative embodiment,the transaction listings 70 may describe a product or service beingoffered for a fixed price by way of a classified advertisement or thathas been offered or is required within the context of a B2B exchange orelectronic marketplace.

The method 550 commences at block 552, the batch text 68 is received atthe network-based transaction facility 10.

At block 554, the parser module 76 of the transaction application 311parses the batch text 68 to extract the various transaction listings 70embodied therein, and performs various verification operations withrespect to each of the each of the extracted transaction listings 70.

At block 556, the transaction application 311 communicates aconfirmation message to the client machine 38 to confirm successfulreceipt and extraction of the various transaction listings 70, includingtheir scheduled start times. In one embodiment, the confirmation messagemay comprise an e-mail message communicated from the e-mail servers 22of the network-based transaction facility 10. In an alternativeembodiment, the page server 12 may, responsive to a user request,generate a markup language document (e.g., a HTML document) thatcommunicates the confirmation message to the user. The confirmationmessage communicated to the client machine 38 at block 556 may furtherinclude a location identifier (e.g., a Uniform Resource Locator (URL))that provides a link to a listing of the collection of transactionlistings 70 extracted by the parser module 76 at block 656 from batchtext collection 68. In an alternative embodiment, the confirmationmessage itself may present such a list of transaction listings 70. Forexample, the confirmation message that is communicated via e-mail to theclient machine 38 may comprise an HTML document that provides a list oftransaction listings 70 included within batch text 68 including thecollection 306.

At block 558, the user is presented with a number of interfaces thatfacilitate viewing and editing of the propagated collection (e.g., inthe form of batch text 68) of transaction listings 70. Consequently, theuser may update the transaction listings 70 after they have beenpropagated via the data file (e.g., batch text 68) to the network-basedtransaction facility 10. The user may either update the transactionlistings 70 online while connected to the network-based transactionfacility 10 or make updates at the seller application 66 and propagatethem to the network-based transaction facility 10. In one embodiment,the various interfaces that facilitate viewing and editing of thetransaction listings 70 may be markup language documents that aregenerated by the page server 12 and communicated to the client machine38 via the Internet 34 for viewing within the context of the browserapplication 36. For example, such interfaces in the form of markuplanguage documents may be invoked by user-selection, on the client-side35, of a URL included within the confirmation message communicated atblock 556. In an alternative embodiment, the interfaces presented atblock 558 may be generated by the seller application 66 utilizing, forexample, text and data communicated from the transaction application311. FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate exemplary interfaces 600 and 602 thatmay be presented to a user by a network-based transaction facility 10 soas to allow the viewing, editing, previewing and confirmation ofcollections of transaction listings 70 and of individual transactionlistings 70.

The seller application 66 includes the ability to automaticallyupdate/upgrade itself with certain pieces of information provided by thenetwork-based transaction facility 10.

FIG. 20 is a detailed flow chart illustrating a method 650, according toan exemplary embodiment of the invention, of facilitating theupdating/upgrading of the seller application 66. The method 650commences at 652 at connection to the network-based transaction facility10 by the seller application 66.

At block 654, the network-based transaction facility 10 determines ifthere are updates/upgrades, which the seller application 66 has notreceived. To support minimal updates/upgrades, a versioning mechanism isused to compare available versions of data elements (e.g., targeted siteconfig files 86) modules (e.g., main module 84, communication module 95,resource module 81, etc.) for the seller application 66 at thenetwork-based transaction facility 10 against the versions of theinstalled data elements and modules at the seller application 66.Updates/upgrades are downloaded for software modules and data elementsthat have changed. The downloaded data may be compressed to shortentransfer times. As explained earlier, in the exemplary embodiment,updates/upgrades include but are not limited to categories updates,attributes updates, program information updates and version upgrades.With regards to categories, the seller application 66 determines ifthere are new/different category structures for any of the sellerapplication 66 enabled targeted sites. Providing automatic categoryupgrades to the seller application 66 upon connection the network-basedtransaction facility 10 is advantageous in that categories may changefrequently (e.g., once a month).

With regards to attributes, the seller application 66 determines ifthere are new/different attributes structures for any of the sellerapplication 66 enabled targeted sites. As previously explained,attributes are category-specific information items that the seller canspecify to help buyers find items, and may not exist for all categories.An example would be the Real Estate—Residential category. For example,when listing an item in this category, a user may be prompted to specifyNumber of bedrooms, Number of bathrooms, Square footage, AirConditioning, Pool (drop-down with: No, Inground, Out-of-Ground), etc .. . .

The buyers are then presented with a selector tool to use whilesearching that allows specification of certain attribute requirements(e.g., in the Real Estate—Residential category, with “New York” in theitem title, 4 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms). Without attributes, thesellers may specify such information but it is not standardized so areliable search mechanism cannot be provided. With attributes, a user isassured that the right information is being searched and retrieved.

Some other example categories with attributes include a computerscategory (processor speed, hard drive size, etc . . . ), a clothing (orapparel) category (type, brand, color, etc . . . ), and a ticketcategory (event type, city, state, face value, etc . . . ).

In the exemplary embodiment, version upgrades include modifications madeto the seller application 66 (e.g., software changes). Suchmodifications may also be known as program updates. Also in theexemplary embodiment, the seller application 66 updates/upgrades may bedeferred. However, the network-based transaction facility 10 may forcean upgrade (e.g., critical changes to the program) or update (e.g.,critical changes to categories). The user does not have the ability toopt out of a forced update or upgrade.

At block 656, if the network-based transaction facility 10 determinesthat there are updates/upgrades to the seller application 66, theupdates/upgrades are downloaded to the seller application 66. In oneembodiment, updates/upgrades are only downloaded if automatic updatingof the seller application 66 is enabled. Following a positivedetermination at decision block 656, the method 650 progresses to block658, where the updates/upgrades are automatically installed. In theexemplary embodiment, the seller application 66 includes routines toautomatically install the updates/upgrades. In an alternativeembodiment, install routines are downloaded with each series ofupdates/upgrades. The install routines are configured to automaticallylaunch upon completion of the download and to install the programupdates/upgrades. In one embodiment, the install routines are configuredto automatically launch only if automatic updating of the sellerapplication 66 is enabled. The method 650 concludes at block 660.

FIGS. 21A-21C provide further details regarding the database structure,maintained by the database engine server 26, to support theabove-described methodologies.

At FIG. 21A, the batch table 42 includes a record for each collection oftransaction listings 70 as originally described, for example, withinbatch text 68 received at the network-based transaction facility 10.

A one-to-many relationship exists between the batch table 42 and thebatch items table 40, which contains transaction listings 70 extractedby the parser module 76 from the batch text 68 into the database 30, butwhich have not as yet gone live.

The items wait table 44 stores loaded transaction listings 70 that arewaiting to go live as described above. The items tables 60 storesrecords of the actual transaction listings 70 that have gone live by theinitiation of the transaction process (e.g., an auction process or anoffer for sales prices) by the network-based transaction facility 10.

FIGS. 21B and 21C illustrate an entity relationship diagram providingfurther details regarding exemplary fields that may be supported by thebatch, batch items, items wait, items, user and related tables.

FIG. 22 shows a diagrammatic representation of machine in the exemplaryform of a computer system 800 within which a set of instructions, forcausing the machine to perform any one of the methodologies discussedabove, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, the machine maycomprise a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, PersonalDigital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, set-topbox (STB) or any machine capable of executing a sequence of instructionsthat specify actions to be taken by that machine.

The computer system 800 includes a processor 802, a main memory 806 anda static memory 808, which communicate with each other via a bus 824.The computer system 800 may further include a video display unit 812(e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). Thecomputer system 800 also includes an alphanumeric input device 814(e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 816 (e.g., a mouse), a diskdrive unit 818, a signal generation device 822 (e.g., a speaker) and anetwork interface device 810.

The disk drive unit 818 includes a machine-readable medium 820 on whichis stored a set of instructions (i.e., software) 804 embodying any one,or all, of the methodologies described above. The software 804 is alsoshown to reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 806 and/or within the processor 802. The software 804 may furtherbe transmitted or received via the network interface device 810. For thepurposes of this specification, the term “machine-readable medium” shallbe taken to include any medium which is capable of storing or encoding asequence of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause themachine to perform any one of the methodologies of the presentinvention. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be takento included, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical andmagnetic disks, and carrier wave signals. Further, while the software isshown in FIG. 22 to reside within a single device, it will beappreciated that the software 804 could be distributed across multiplemachines or storage media, which may include the machine-readablemedium.

Thus, a method and system to schedule transaction listings at anetwork-based transaction facility, via the seller application, havebeen described. Although the present invention has been described withreference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident thatvarious modifications and changes may be made to these embodimentswithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

In the foregoing detailed description, the method and system of thepresent invention has been described with reference to specificexemplary embodiments thereof It will, however, be evident that variousmodifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from thebroader spirit and scope of the present invention. In particular, theseparate blocks of the various block diagrams represent functionalblocks of methods or apparatuses and are not necessarily indicative ofphysical or logical separations or of an order of operation inherent inthe spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the blocksof FIGS. 11 a and 11 b represent portions of a method, which, in someembodiments, may be reordered or may be organized in parallel ratherthan in a linear or step-wise fashion. The present specification andfigures are accordingly to be regarded as illustrative rather thanrestrictive.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving a connection froma client machine that is executing an application customizable byconfiguration information; determining that the application has not beencustomized by the configuration information; and transmitting theconfiguration information to the client machine, the application beingconfigured by the configuration information to include a categorystructure for the application in response to the transmitting of theconfiguration information, the transmitting of the configurationinformation being performed by a processor of a machine in response tothe determining that the application has not been customized by theconfiguration information.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:receiving a selection of a web site, the selection identifying the website as being selected by a user of the client machine.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein: the receiving of the selection of the web siteincludes recognizing the selection of the web site in the receiving ofthe connection from the client machine.
 4. The method of claim 2,wherein: the configuration information identifies the web site andconfigures the application to communicate with the web site.
 5. Themethod of claim 2, wherein: the selection of the web site is an offlineselection of a preference for the web site.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein: the transmitting of the configuration information to the clientmachine causes the client machine to configure the application with theconfiguration information.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein: thetransmitting of the configuration information includes transmitting asoftware module upgrade of the application from a network-based facilityto the client machine.
 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:determining that the software module upgrade exists, the transmitting ofthe software module upgrade being in response to the determining thatthe software module upgrade exists.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein:the transmitting of the configuration information includes transmittingan update of the application from the network-based facility to theclient machine.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein: the update of theapplication includes at least one of: an updated attribute structure forthe application, or a modification of the application.
 11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: the configuration information identifies ageographical region based on at least one of: a country of the web site,a state of the web site, a territory of the web site, or a province ofthe web site; and the application is configured by the configurationinformation, in response to the transmitting of the configurationinformation, to communicate according to the identified geographicalregion.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein: the configurationinformation identifies a currency; and the application is configured bythe configuration information, in response to the transmitting of theconfiguration information, to display a fee in the identified currency.13. The method of claim 1, wherein: the configuration informationidentifies a currency format; and the application is configured by theconfiguration information, in response to the transmitting of theconfiguration information, to display a fee using the identifiedcurrency format.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein: the configurationinformation identifies a language; and the application is configured bythe configuration information, in response to the transmitting of theconfiguration information, to display content in the identifiedlanguage.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein: the configurationinformation identifies a font that corresponds to the language; and theapplication is configured by the configuration information, in responseto the transmitting of the configuration information, to display contentin the identified font that corresponds to the language.
 16. The methodof claim 1, wherein: the application is configured by the configurationinformation in response to an enablement of automatic updating of theapplication.
 17. A non-transitory machine-readable storage mediumcomprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors ofa machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising: receivinga connection from a client machine that is executing an applicationcustomizable by configuration information; determining that theapplication has not been customized by the configuration information;and transmitting the configuration information to the client machine,the application being configured by the configuration information toinclude a category structure for the application in response to thetransmitting of the configuration information, the transmitting of theconfiguration information being performed by the one or more processorsof the machine in response to the determining that the application hasnot been customized by the configuration information.
 18. Thenon-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein: thetransmitting of the configuration information includes transmitting asoftware module upgrade of the application from a network-based facilityto the client machine.
 19. A system comprising: a communicator moduleconfigured to receive a connection from a client machine that isexecuting an application customizable by configuration information; anda processor configured by an upgrade control module that configures theprocessor to determine that the application has not been customized bythe configuration information, the upgrade control module configuringthe processor to transmit the configuration information to the clientmachine, the application being configured by the configurationinformation to include a category structure for the application inresponse to the transmitting of the configuration information, thetransmitting of the configuration information being performed inresponse to the determining that the application has not been customizedby the configuration information.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein:the transmitting of the configuration information includes transmittinga software module upgrade of the application from a network-basedfacility to the client machine.
 21. The system of claim 19, wherein: thecategory structure is configured to enable a user of the application tocategorize user-composed information to be communicated from theapplication to a network-based facility.
 22. The system of claim 19,wherein: the category structure is configured to enable a user of theapplication to classify a listing created by the user for publication bya network-based facility.
 23. The system of claim 19, wherein: thecategory structure is configured to enable a user of the application toclassify an advertisement for at least one of a product or a service.24. The system of claim 19, wherein: the category structure specifiesmultiple sets of attributes that correspond to multiple categoriesincluded in the category structure.